SC verdict on Arunachal ''very strange'': BJP

New Delhi, July 13

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appeared to question the Supreme Court’s verdict restoring the old government in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday as it wondered if the decision weakened democratic spirit.

The party claimed it was the current chief minister, Kalikho Pul — not his predecessor Nabam Tuki  — who commanded the numbers needed to run a government.

"Much water has flowed down in the last seven months. The order certainly raises a question as to whether it strengthens the democratic spirit or weakens it. This is a question as it appears from the verdict that the one having the majority is being asked to sit in the opposition and the one who has lost it is being asked to run the government.”

"This is a very strange order and that is why it is being studied. The person who has the majority, who is running the government presently is being asked to be in the opposition," party national secretary Shrikant Sharma told a press conference, although he insisted it wasn’t a comment on the verdict and that party still had to study it.

"In democracy, the one with the numbers runs the government. And the numbers are with the current chief minister, not Tuki," he said.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of restoring old order in the state, months after a political tussle between Tuki and rebel legislators — Kulikho among them — led to deposing the former and the latter’s takeover.

Kulikho was sworn in as chief minister in February. The BJP had rendered outside support. 

‘No threat’

Pul however said his government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court.

Pul said: “(Our) government will remain. That will be decided on the floor of the Assembly. Government runs only with the numbers. There is no threat to our government”.

"We followed procedure. We showed we had the support of 32 MLAs and proved our majority," he said.

'Victory'

Tuki said it was a "welcome" verdict.  “I have faith in the judiciary and would act as per the constitutional provisions," Tuki said from Delhi, where he is currently.

Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Padi Richo said the order vindicated their stand.

"It was the victory of the Constitution and the people". — Agencies